Centre for the Study of Religion and Culture in Asia

At the University of Groningen I am also Director of the Centre for the Study of Religion and Culture in Asia.

Established by Dr. Peter Berger and myself, the Centre has been envisioned as a research centre, the intellectual home for the members of the Faculty of Theology and Religious Studies at the University of Groningen who do research on religion and culture of Asia and the research students of the same Faculty who are writing their dissertations on similar topics; the Centre also welcomes members of other Faculties within the University, as well as from other institutions to be associate fellows.

The guiding principle of the Centre is that only constructive dialogue and cooperation among scholars can advance knowledge. In line with this, the Centre is meant to offer a venue and occasions for scholars from various institutions in the world to gather, exchange views, combine different methodologies and approaches, revise and innovate theories and methods in the field, and contribute to produce interdisciplinary academic scholarship.

The results of the research work conducted in the Centre are delivered in seminars and conferences, and published in peer-reviewed journals and monographs.

The Colloquium on Asian Religions represents the regular seminar of the Centre for the Study of Religion and Culture in Asia, and aims to present new findings in the study of religion and culture in areas like South Asia, Southeast Asia and East Asia. It is a forum for discussing the conceptualization of religion in Asia as well as aspects of Asian religions from the perspectives of anthropology, history, sociology, political science and other disciplines.

The Centre also publishes the biannual CSRCA Newsletter. For more details on history, projects, staff and associate fellows, links and media, please see the Centre’s website.